Another great breakfast stop in manhattan. The staff is vibrant and fast with service. When I arrived on Saturday morning the place was packed with people waiting outside. Plus the aroma from the food outside was intoxicating. Wait time was about 20-30 minutes. We had about 7 people in our group and was able to get a corner booth to fit us in. Walking in impressed me. Place looks small from the outside but fairly roomy inside. The decor and style was bright and looked great. All the food I saw looked well presentable. Majority of the group ordered the breakfast burrito, recommended by my friend. Had the home style potatoes to go with it. The burrito was drinched with gravy and sausage. The food use very fresh ingredients and was uniform. For the portion size it was plenty. The orange juice I had was fresh as well andnot the typical concentrated stuff you would get else where. Overall consensus of the group rated this place high. I would rank this place as the best place for breakfast on the east side of town. Food is a bit pricey, but you get your moneys worth for the quality ingrdients used. read more

The chef is probably the most popular place in Manhattan, it's been rated number one breakfast in all of Kansas, so of course it is great! The place is small though so expect very long wait times: usually more than an hour long. Even though it's good I don't think it's worth that long of a wait so if you can try and go early or during the week when it's less busy. The staff is very friendly and try to give you the best experience possible, they really make you feel at home. If it's your first time at the Chef, you have to try the dang quesadilla, a breakfast quesadilla may sound weird but it is amazing, especially with their homemade chipotle sauce. Honestly, I have never had a bad experience there, I just wish they would expand because their restaurant size just can't serve the many people that want to eat there. read more

Want a cocktail with your breakfast? This is the place in town. The quesadilla, biscuits and gravy or the corned beef hash. So many great choices. read more

The Chef - Breakfast quesadilla - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

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Super friendly staff and dependably good food. The Chef is good...but I probably wouldn't wait an hour outside to eat here. This place is so popular with the sororities and guys with socks on their heads that you will wait an hour...well, especially on weekends after 9am. The most memorable part of the experience was the staff. They make you feel welcome without being over stimulating. The food wasn't out of this world but delicious and delivered quickly. I would absolutely make this my first choice...unless there was a long wait. read more

Classic local breakfast/lunch stop. Be prepared to wait for a table because locals line up for this place downtown.

Have been here a few times and the food has been great except last time the cook barely cooked my redskin home fries. Felt like I was eating raw potatoes and ruined my meal. Can't believe a manager would let that slide. Probably won't be going back. read more

Although the wait was 30 minutes and they don't take reservations, this place was worth it. They haven't reinvented the wheel with their breakfast selection but they add their own personal touches to each of the breakfast dishes we know and love. They serve a classic French toast with unique caramel cream cheese. Their drop biscuits come with a house-made strawberry jam that they keep hot over the stove all day. Plain yogurt is made original with homemade granola. I was just traveling through, but I would recommend this place to anyone in the area as long as you prepare for a little bit of a wait. read more

Part of the charm of the Chef is the long wait - just being real. I'm not sure if the food would be as good if you weren't drooling by the time you sat down. That being said, I love it. Worth it. Go here! Reservations are not allowed, and you need to arrive in person to place your name on the list. As a former K-Stater, I've tried most of the menu and haven't had a bad dish yet. There's always a board with daily rotating specials. If you're an eggs bene fan, upgrade to their smoked salmon or crab cakes version. Both are equally delicious. If you're more of a dessert for breakfast kind of person, the bananas foster pancakes does not disappoint. It's smothered in epic rum sauce. Coffee is inexpensive, decent, and bottomless. Another genius idea from the Chef? Manmossas - a combination of Busch light and orange juice... They're a surprisingly refreshing way to start your morning and the perfect cure for a hangover. The interior is bright and cheery, as is the staff. This would be a terrible review if I failed to mention the epic music selection. The Chef might be in possession of the best 80s/90s mix on this earth. Enjoy! read more

The Chef - Crab cake eggs bene & a Bloody Mary. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

Delicious food in a modern yet classic cozy diner atmosphere: "order up!" Friendly, personable service, (the staff knew me by name - past a mask - even though I hadn't seen them in decades)! Portions were generous; great chicken-fried steak, the smothered burrito was wonderful too! read more

I came here for 4th of July weekend with my best friend. It has a bit of a wait, as all good places do, but it wasn't too bad. The food was OUTSTANDING! I had the chicken fried steak and it was sublime. The steak was cooked perfectly and the gravy was to die for. And the biscuits, hot damn! They were fluffy and heavenly. The country potatoes were on point as well. And you can't beat the decor. It's adorable. I particularly loved the salt and pepper shakers on each table. A cow and milk. So sweet! 10/10. I still have dreams about that chicken fried steak and I will be back for more. read more

The Chef - Chicken Fried Steak N Eggs. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

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Excellent breakfast and a very friendly wait staff. The place was very busy with a waiting list but they were very efficient. We will definitely be back next time we're in Manhattan! read more

Manhattan doesn't have very many brunch places, but The Chef is fantastic! Both times I went here I got a delicious ham and cheese omelet. The coffee is great as well, and it comes with fresh creamer (which surprisingly makes a difference). The service was very friendly. My only complaint is the restaurant's size--there's a reason I've only been here twice in my 4 years living here. This is probably the most popular brunch place in Manhattan, but it is also the smallest. I really wish they would expand! On a Sunday morning, don't expect a wait time less than an hour. But if you manage to get in, you will not be disappointed! read more

Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and food presentation was great ,however the food was rather bland except for the home style fries which were spicy definitely chose hash rounds for kids. read more

I was at The Chef last Sunday 11/2. Had a magical brunch with friends. I think the staff/food really has character. They make the place so easy to frequent when I visit the area. Drinks with brunch and even while waiting in line makes me very excited to return. I think in my opinion this place has top notch talent working and food is consistently delicious. If in the area during their business hours....must stop kind of place no matter the wait time. Its well worth it. read more

The Chef - Looked over the menu while waiting in line / with drink in hand. Yummo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

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Wow I had the crab cake Bennie and a side of French toast the food was amazing. Very friendly service and not a long wait. The French toast was amazing and they have some really fun bar items makes for good conversations. read more

Hands down best breakfast in MHK. The biscuits and gravy are by far the best I've ever had. The wait can be long, especially on weekends, so come early! read more

Sometimes a slow wait but amazing food-get the salmon scramble and your home style potatoes extra crispy-AMAZING (Also don't miss the mimosas because they're delicious) read more

The Chef is THE place to have breakfast in Manhattan, it is always busy and hard to find a seat but I promise it is worth the wait! I can't even say what is my favorite because I love everything. I have tried so many of the different dishes and love when they have specials. I miss my college days and if I am ever back I make it a point even if I am hungover to stop by before I leave town! read more

The Chef - This was my biscuits and gravy! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

The Chef is a breakfast staple in downtown Manhattan, KS, and for good reason. The atmosphere is nice in this cozy little cafe and the food overall is very good. I don't think it quite lives up to the hype and would not be worth the hour long wait on a Saturday or Sunday morning, but if you ever have a weekday morning off or can get there before the crowds on a weekend, I highly recommend checking it out. If it's a K-State football game day, try somewhere else as the lines will be crazy. Also, The Chef has a great location right off of Poyntz, so there is lots of other stuff to walk to and check out after breakfast. read more

Excellent food and portions, flavor and alot of creative twist on traditional breakfast items. Restaurant is very small and nearly impossible to get into on the weekend. Price of the meal was perfect for the quality of food. Staff was very friendly and attentive. We will most definitely will be returning. read more

Tbh I heard people raving about this place, but I don't why Manhattan, Kansas's motto is "If depression came in a form of food, it would be the whole town!" The eggs Benedict always have a fungal small to them. Also what's up with this area always watering down drinks. It's unfortunate to see these college town's not wanting to diversify and expand their menus. Also I got the grilled cheese once from here, and the bread had mold!!! It's better the make a drive elsewhere! read more

Our laat few experiences gere have been great. The TV is no longer too loud and the food is consistently good.

I don't know if Yelp has a limit for number of superlatives in a review, because if so, then I should just stop right now. The Chef is a truly amazing restaurant that you simply must go to the next time you're in town. There's a reason why this place is constantly crowded, and that's because the level of quality in the food is hard to beat. Many of the entrees have a Latin influence, but if that isn't your go-to style, you can definitely find other treats on the menu. Sweet and savory breakfast lovers have opportunities here! Standouts include the Dang Quesadilla, Bananas Fosters pancakes, and the homemade corned beef hash. AND they will give you a coffee in a to-go cup at the end of your meal - does it get any better? read more

Great place to have breakfast. I was on my way to KC and stopped short in town to get a hotel room as I was exhausted and couldn't drive further. Found this place on Yelp and wasn't disappointed. Awesome food! read more

The Chef - Chicken fried steak! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

Traveling through town visiting a friend and this is where she took us. It was pretty packed for a Thursday morning so I knew this was the happening place. I ordered the pesto frittata and the rest of my party ordered the smothered breakfast burrito. The pesto frittata had goat cheese and tomatoes. Orders came with hash browns which were some of the best that I have eaten. Restaurant staff were friendly and helpful. I would definitely go back and eat here again. read more

The Chef - Pesto frittata with hash browns. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

The most delicious amazing boutique cafe I've encountered in quite some time. We had breakfast. They also serve lunch. I had homemade corned beef hash - the best ever! My husband had chicken fried steak, also incredible!! If you love breakfast and brunch, don't miss The Chef! read more

The Chef - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

honestly this place would be good if so many people weren't at the restaurant at once, OH WAIT the food is still crap, the bacon is to chewy and i got it undercooked, the pancakes are WHOLE GRAIN which nobody likes and the drinks are smaller than a sippy cup read more

The Chef - this is me when the bacon is undercooked - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

Greatest spot for breakfast worth the long wait. Table of 8 old time college gang reunite. Frittatas Florentine w sweet tator fries. Excellent read more

Great local breakfast joint. Had the homemade hash. It was quite good, Different take on hash, but still yummy. Good coffee and great friendly staff. read more

The Chef - Homemade Hash with poached eggs and wheat toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Manhattan, Kansas

I had eaten once before at The Chef and it was ok. We decided to give it another try and I'm so glad we did. I had the fajita scramble, which was delicious. It comes with flour tortillas but you will still have much of the scramble left over, it's plentiful. A side of hash browns and yummy fresh fruit bowl. My daughter had French toast, eggs and bacon. She said hers was very good also. I would definitely return to try other menu items. Be prepared to wait, the place is very busy. read more

Amazing food and amazing service! My mom and I came here for brunch a couple weekends ago, and this was our first time trying the place. The wait was longer than we were told, but the food just exceeded our expectations and our waitress was very kind. I got the dang quesadilla and it really is dang good. We are definitely going back! read more

Went there for the first time with one of my friends who lives in the area. I had the crab cakes eggs Benedict. They were fantastic. I strongly recommend this restaurant and hope to return. read more

My friend was visiting from out of town and we decided to try The Chef! This was my first time there but she had tried it before and recommended it. It was a Saturday so we saw they closed at 3 and we went in and got seated with plenty of time to spare (it was like 1:15). The service was good and the food was delicious! We noticed it cleared out fast as we were finishing our food and catching up. Then we realized it was Friday and that they had just closed! We felt really bad, but the staff was so nice and didn't seem annoyed at all. I highly recommend this place for anyone who's looking for breakfast and I'll for sure be back (at a more reasonable time ) ! read more

One of our two favorite places to eat breakfast in Manhattan. If you can tolerate the wait (usually about 15-30 minutes), you will have a great breakfast in a friendly atmosphere. All ages can be seen dining here on any given day of the week. The food is always good and the menu is interesting. There are a few adult drinks for those interested in starting the day off early. read more

After passing this restaurant dozens of times and seeing the constant crowd of people waiting for a table, my husband and I finally decided to see what the fuss was all about. He had a weekday off, so we went around 8am on a Friday. It was still busy, but there were a few free tables and we were seated right away. There's nothing particularly special or noteworthy about the decor or seating: it's pretty standard, but not uncomfortable. We didn't look at the menu because we came in knowing what we wanted: pancakes. We each ordered a single pancake (they're big) and opted to pay the extra I think $0.50 for an add-on; not bad, considering they were only somewhere around $5.50 and came with two strips of bacon. Husband got bananas and I got blackberries. We waited a considerable amount of time before our food came, but that was fine. I'd rather wait a little and make sure I'm getting a good meal than rush it anyway. We had ordered coffee and the waitress did a splendid job of ensuring our cups stayed filled with fresh, hot coffee. My first impression of the coffee was that it was a just a tiny bit weak, but it actually wasn't bad. It had a nice flavor, and I tend to drink really dark roasts anyway. When our food came, we were surprised to see that the add-ons are actually cooked into the pancake! We were expecting a topping. This was certainly a pleasant and welcome surprise! The blackberries in my pancake were enormous and delicious. I tried a bite of my husband's banana pancake, and it was equally tasty. The actual pancakes were very good taste and consistency wise (I mean, what's there to say about a pancake? They weren't bland, and they weren't overly fluffy or overly flat, so they were good!) I also have to say... I'm usually not a big fan of bacon, but the bacon here was actually really good. We won't be in Manhattan much longer at this point, but I hope to revisit The Chef. Honestly, the pancake was so good, I'd probably get the same thing but try a different mix-in. Hopefully I'll make it back before I leave! read more

Management is rude and disrespectful. Poorly ran and food is very mediocre. The taste of food is very plain or overloaded with pepper to give some type of flavor. Was told by staff that manager called my wife a b*tch in the back and told to her to pump and dump because she had a question about one of items on the menu, due to being a new mother and is breastfeeding. read more

There is no better breakfast place than the Chef. I lived in Manhattan for about a year and a half, and went to The Chef for breakfast on average at least twice a week during my whole residency. (This is no exaggeration) The food is always incredible, the selection is great, the staff is extremely fast and friendly, and the space is very unique and reeks of character. Best Recommendations: * Breakfast Pizza * Chorizo Burrito * Breakfast Bowl * Dang Quesadilla (this. is. the. best.) This place always has a wait on Fri. - Sun., or any big game day for K-State or event, so make sure to plan time accordingly and bring a social attitude! read more

Idk man, I just can't get over the fact that my bill was $43 last time I went and it was just my two elementary age boys and myself. I mean they had like pancakes, one had biscuit eggs, gravy and something, and I had like a $10 plate or so, anyways then your charged for the drinks also, I mean the service is always stellar, food is usually ( not always) pretty darn good and creative, but I have a food service background and understand the cost of breakfest foods, and can't justify spending $43(before tip) for less than $5 worth of food product, their just a bit to steep for me and last time was kinda it for me, we literally were hungry an hour later simply because it wasn't that much food. Ultimately in the past year I've had 3 really good visits, and 3 very dissapointing ones, It ma fine and I don't mind dipping $12-$15 when I'm by myself or with a friend that's paying for their own, but I can't really take my family here without feeling like I just paid a freaking utility bill for slightly better than ihop food, if even. So just be aware of how pricey they can be read more

Excellent place to grab a delicious breakfast and wash it down with a tasty Bloody Mary.

Amazing!! We are regulars here at this point and it is ALWAYS delicious and the service is always amazing and friendly. They make great "adult" drinks, always tastes fresh and bubbly. The food is always amazing, and you get a lot of food for what you pay for! :) And the food never makes you feel sick, it's never greasy or salty. it's always perfect. Would 100% recommend for breakfast or brunch, the place is super cute and colorful and just very inviting. read more